Ahead of the show’s historic crossover episode with Emmerdale, a Coronation Street cast member is said to have signed a new contract with the ITV soap to take them into next year
A Coronation Street cast member has reportedly signed a new contract which will see them remain on the show into next year. It’s been teased that it could mean they end up appearing in the crossover episode with Emmerdale.
Claire Sweeney, 54, has already been on the ITV soap for two years. The actor made her on-screen debut as Cassie Plummer in 2023, with the character introduced as the estranged mother of Tyrone Dobbs (played by Alan Halsall) and the daughter of Evelyn Plummer (Maureen Lipman). It’s now been reported that the former Brookside star recently signed a contract for Corrie to take her into next year. A source told the Sun: “Claire loves being on Corrie – it’s a dream job, so she was delighted to sign a new deal.”
The source further commented: “With the big Emmerdale crossover coming in 2026, there’s also a hope that she’ll be in that too.” They added: “It’s a great opportunity to be part of soap history so who wouldn’t want to be involved?”
ITV announced the crossover episode earlier this month. It was revealed that the “unprecedented, one-off special episode” will launch its upcoming “power hour” of soaps, with the new schedule beginning in January next year.
The broadcaster said that, for the first time, the hour-long episode will see characters from both Corrie and Emmerdale come together in a “celebration of the soap genre”. It’s been described as a “mash-up” of the two communities.
ITV confirmed that the episode will be “self-contained”. It however teased that the crossover will have “repercussions” for characters and see them “linked forever as familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both soaps”.
It was also announced at the time that as an “extra treat” for fans, viewers will be invited to choose which two characters, one from each soap, they would like to see meet and interact in a scene. Details of the vote are yet to be shared.
The news came after it had previously been announced prior that from January next year the air time of Corrie and Emmerdale will be reduced. Fans will get a combined total of five hours a week rather than the current six hours per week.
The “soaps power hour” will see Emmerdale broadcast from 8pm to 8.30pm each day between Monday to Friday. Whilst Corrie will then air from 8.30pm to 9pm. Episodes will still be released at 7am on ITVX, before transmission that evening.
ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo had said in a statement: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them, in the most digestible way.
“In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows. Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30 minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.
“Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30 minute drama this successfully. It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps.”
Kevin added: “This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six. We are conscious this will have an impact for the people who work on the soaps team. We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people.
“These changes are motivated by doing what we believe is best for the continuing success of these important programmes in the long term. They also create headroom in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV grow reach in a very very competitive market.”
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